Beach Bill to Redact Email Addresses from Public Records Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator James Beach that would require email addresses to be redacted from public records cleared the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee today.

“Allowing email addresses to be disclosed only increases the number of unsolicited emails sent every day,” said Senator Beach (Burlington/Camden). “Email addresses are private information; they should not be shared publicly without the individual’s consent.”

The bill, S-1905, would include email addresses on the list of confidential items that must be redacted from any public record disclosed under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

OPRA requires redactions of certain confidential information; the law recognizes that a public agency has a responsibility and an obligation to safeguard from public access someone’s personal information with which it has been entrusted when disclosure thereof would violate the person’s reasonable expectation of privacy

The bill passed committee today by a vote of 5-0 and next heads to the full Senate for further consideration.